United Kingdom

Government & Politics

Groups accused of ‘extremism’ hit back at Michael Gove and say re-assessment ‘will motivate us’ The communities secretary named five organisations that will be re-assessed against the government's new definition of extremism — and one has now threatened legal action.

March 14, 2024   

(Sky News) Two groups set to be re-assessed under the government’s new definition of extremism have hit back at Michael Gove — with one saying the minister’s latest move will only bolster their organisation. Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, the communities […]

Government & Politics

Michael Gove names far-right and Islamist groups which could fall under fresh extremism definition The communities secretary insisted the government has no intention of restricting 'freedom of expression, religion or belief,' as critics warned the new definition could have a 'chilling effect' on free speech.

March 14, 2024   

(Sky News) Michael Gove has named five groups that will be re-assessed as a result of the government’s new definition of extremism. Speaking in the Commons, the communities secretary said two far-right organisations — the British National Socialist Movement and the Patriotic […]

Government & Politics

New extremism definition unveiled because ‘democracy at risk from far-right and Islamist extremists’ Michael Gove updates the description to include conduct that falls short of criminality, but the government still deems 'unacceptable.'

March 14, 2024   

(Sky News) The government has unveiled its new definition of extremism despite warnings it could have a “chilling effect” on free speech. Michael Gove, the communities secretary, has updated the definition as part of a drive to clamp down on the Islamist […]

Government & Politics

Tower Hamlets Council refuses to disclose how many Palestinian flags it has taken down In response to a freedom of information request asking how many Palestinian flags it had taken down following complaints by residents Tower Hamlets said disclosure could 'endanger the safety of individuals'

March 13, 2024   

(Jewish News) An East London council has refused to answer a freedom of information (FOI) request asking to know how many Palestinian flags they have removed from lamp posts and other public property in the borough on the grounds that to do […]

Government & Politics

Government’s new extremism definition will ‘vilify the wrong people,’ warn Muslim organisations Groups say the new definition 'signals an attack on civil liberties by attacking law-abiding individuals and groups that oppose government policy' by labelling them as 'extremist.'

March 13, 2024   

(Sky News) The government’s proposal to redefine extremism will “vilify the wrong people” and “risk more division,” according to a coalition of Muslim organisations. Signatories include groups which fear they may fall under the new definition announced as part of the government’s […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK terror attack survivors condemn anti-Muslim hatred in joint letter The signatories, including survivors and relatives of people who have been killed by extremists, have criticised some politicians for 'facilitating anti-Muslim hate.'

March 10, 2024   

(Sky News) More than 50 victims of Islamist-inspired terror attacks, including the Manchester Arena bombing and Bataclan shooting, have joined together to call for an end to anti-Muslim hate. In a joint letter, they warn that it is the “height of irresponsibility” […]

Demonstrations

Michael Gove says ‘good-hearted people’ at pro-Palestine marches should question potential ‘extremist organisers’ Tens of thousands of people participated in a Gaza protest on Saturday in London — the fifth march in the capital this year — which saw five arrests and a counter-protester de-arrested.

March 10, 2024   

(Sky News) Michael Gove has urged pro-Palestinian protesters to question whether extremist groups are behind some of the demonstrations — days ahead of publishing a new official definition of extremism. The housing secretary said “good-hearted people” attending the marches should be aware […]

Demonstrations

Claims of ‘no-go zones for Jews’ in London ‘total and utter fiction,’ says Shomrim president Rabbi Herschel Gluck has accused the Home Office’s independent advisor on extremism Robin Simcox of making claims about 'no-go [zones] for Jews' that have 'nothing to do with reality'

March 8, 2024   

(Jewish News) Suggestions that there are no-go zones in London for Jews are “a total and utter fiction,” Shomrim president Rabbi Herschel Gluck has said. Responding to claims made by Robin Simcox, the Home Office’s independent advisor on extremism, who suggested that […]

Demonstrations

CST chief says claims London a no-go zone for Jews during Gaza protests ‘deeply troubling’ Mark Gardner, the CST’s chief executive, told Radio 4’s Today programme there was ’huge element of truth’ in the claim about the West End during pro-Palestine events

March 8, 2024   

(Jewish News) A newspaper headline claiming London’s streets have become a “no-go zone for Jews” during pro-Palestinian protests is “deeply troubling,” the Community Security Trust’s chief executive has claimed, but he added that “it also contains a huge element of truth.” Mark […]

Clerics & Preachers

Muslim preacher reported to police after comparing October 7 attacks to Jews breaking out of concentration camps West Yorkshire police were handed a dossier filled with remarks Ladak has made since the Hamas attack

March 7, 2024   

(GB News) A Muslim preacher who compared the October 7 attacks to Jews breaking out of concentration camps and attacking Nazis has been reported to the police. Sheikh Jaffer Ladak, the imam of the Baab-Ul-Ilm Centre in Leeds, made numerous comments on […]

News: Europe

Palestinian Solidarity Campaign distances itself from event with terrorist hijacker The PSC now says fundraising event featuring Leila Khaled 'did not clearly fall within the framework of the principles' it believes in

March 7, 2024   

(Jewish News) The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has attempted to distance itself from an event advertised as a fundraiser for its West Midlands branch following an outcry after it emerged the Palestinian plane hijacker Leila Khaled is set to be among the speakers. […]

Academics & Education

UK to create ‘blacklist’ of Muslim groups under new extremism definition Government is bringing in robust changes to target groups and individuals 'undermining' British values

March 5, 2024 and   

(National-UAE) The UK government is creating a “blacklist” of organisations under a new definition of extremism which would see their funding cut. Several Muslim groups are likely to be on the list after being singled out in government reports. The groups facing […]

News: Europe

Poll shows Muslims ‘happier in Britain than other European nations’ The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life found that British Muslims are happier here than in most other European nations.

March 5, 2024   

(New Arab) British Muslims living in the UK are happier than their co-religionists living in other European nations, a survey commissioned by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has reported. The survey also found that they feel optimistic about […]

Demonstrations

Judge who failed to jail paraglider symbol London protest trio to be investigated Judge Tan Ikram spared the three women prison after they were convicted of terror offences at pro-Palestinian protest

March 4, 2024   

(Jewish News) A senior judge who faced a barrage of criticism after he “decided not to punish” three women who had displayed paraglider images at a pro-Palestinian protest in London is to be investigated over alleged bias, reports say. Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate, who allowed […]

Clerics & Preachers

Hate preachers to be blocked from entering the UK in fresh crackdown on extremism Ministers already have powers to block people who are 'non-conducive to the public good' — and believe they can be extended to include individuals preaching racism and incitement.

March 3, 2024   

(Sky News) Hate preachers are to be banned from entering the UK. It is understood that officials will identify the most dangerous extremists from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia and add them to a warning list. Anyone on that list will […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

In Britain, shockwaves from Israel-Hamas war are jolting domestic politics The United States and several European nations have been caught up in toxic debates that have altered election campaigns and led to eruptions of inflammatory language over the conflict.

February 29, 2024   

(NY Times) Inside Britain’s Parliament, lawmakers jeered, booed, and stormed out of the House of Commons to protest the speaker’s handling of a vote calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Outside, a crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators projected the slogan, “From the river […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

UK’s Tories tear themselves apart over Islamophobia A row over a suspended MP has triggered a days-long debate in the governing party about anti-Muslim hatred.

February 28, 2024   

(Politico) Britain’s Conservatives have yet another civil war on their hands. The governing party has spent much of the past week publicly agonizing about anti-Muslim prejudice — and the bitter row shows no signs of subsiding. Lee Anderson, the party’s former deputy […]

Citizenship

Shamima Begum: East London schoolgirl loses appeal against removal of UK citizenship The 24-year-old's legal battle is likely to continue as one of her lawyers said 'as long as she is there, it is not the end.'

February 23, 2024   

(Sky News) Shamima Begum has lost an appeal against the removal of her British citizenship. The east London schoolgirl, now 24, travelled to Syria in 2015 at the age of 15, before her citizenship was revoked on national security grounds shortly after […]

Demonstrations

Commons speaker says he allowed Labour Gaza motion out of fears for ‘safety of MPs and their families’ Lindsay Hoyle apologises to MPs over Commons Gaza vote chaos saying 'I thought I was doing the right thing and the best thing'

February 22, 2024   

(Jewish News) House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has said he controversially allowed Labour to bring their Gaza ceasefire motion to a vote because of genuine fears over the safety of MPs and their families. The surprise move took place as thousands […]

Government & Politics

George Galloway accused of ‘using’ Rochdale’s Muslim community A renegade candidate and Labour in turmoil — all eyes are on next week’s by-election as recent events make the result anything but a foregone conclusion

February 22, 2024   

(Jewish News) Muslim voters in the Greater Manchester by-election town of Rochdale this week openly expressed fears to Jewish News that the veteran anti-Zionist campaigner George Galloway is “using us” as he attempts to secure victory in the polls. One local businessman, […]

Government & Politics

Robert Jenrick claims ‘Islamist extremists’ have been allowed to dominate our streets The former minister tells the Commons 'British Jews and others' are ' too intimidated to walk through central London week after week'

February 22, 2024   

(Jewish News) Former Tory minister Robert Jenrick has suggested “Islamist extremists” have been allowed to dominate our streets leaving “British Jews and others too intimidated to walk through central London week after week.” Speaking in the Commons, as MPs discussed the frantic […]

Demonstrations

Minister expects probe into judge who appeared to like antisemitic LinkedIn post Social media grab seems to show magistrates court Judge Tan Ikram, who gave 12-month conditional discharge to three women found guilty of terror offence, liking post saying 'Free Free Palestine'

February 20, 2024   

(Jewish News) A minister has suggested a judge accused of giving “lenient sentences” for terrorism offences should be investigated for appearing to support a pro-Palestine social media post. The Home Office’s Chris Philp told MPs he would expect the Judicial Conduct Investigations […]

News: Europe

British jihadist who went to fight in Syria in bid for ‘martyrdom’ will be freed from prison Mohammed Nahin Ahmed was locked up in 2014 after pleading guilty of joining an extremist group in the Middle East

February 19, 2024   

(GB News) A British jihadist who went to fight in Syria has been given the green light to leave prison. Mohammed Nahin Ahmed, one of the UK’s most dangerous terrorists, was sentenced a decade ago after [pleading] guilty to joining a jihadist […]

Government & Politics

Khairi Saadallah: MI5 ‘triaged’ terrorist four times but Reading stabbings could not have been stopped, inquest hears Despite the amount of intelligence the security service had on Khairi Saadallah, a senior manager at MI5 said no 'proportionate actions' could have been taken that would have prevented the terrorist attack.

February 19, 2024   

(Sky News) MI5 “triaged” a violent offender four times before he carried out a terrorist knife attack and killed three men in a park in Reading, an inquest has heard. The agency received intelligence including threats by Khairi Saadallah to “blow himself […]